The U.S. Olympic Pipe Team Is Finally Announced

It was a night of victory laps for some and edge-of-the-seat nail biters for others. It was a night of HUGE airs—with Scotty and Shaun leading the charge on the first backside hit in the eighteen-footer range.

Kelly Clark Victory Lap Frontside Air

There was heartbreak, too.Of the 24 riders competing today for a legitimate chance to represent the US of A in the Olympics, six of those riders were confirmed. The current U.S. Olympic team is:

Graham Watanabe and Nate Holland are also confirmed for Snowboardcross.

The entire U.S. Olympic team will be announced on Monday including the remaining two pipe riders and the remaining Snowboardcross and Parallel Giant Slalom riders. Elena Hight is in position to take that remaining women’s pipe spot, and three men are tied to take the open men’s pipe spot—19-old Greg Bretz from Mammoth Lakes, California; 2002 Olympic Bronze medalist JJ Thomas, and 19-year-old Luke Mitrani from Stratton, Vermont are all in contention. Seth Wescott is expected to be the third Snowboardcrosser. It’s all up to the U.S. Snowboard team coaches now.

Those that didn’t make it, but came close include U.S. Snowboard teamrider Zack Black who came out of the pack of contenders and landed the first switch backside 10 in competition during the Grand Prix series. And all the other young riders like Matt Ladley, Broc Waring, Dylan Bidez, Ellery Hollingsworth, Maddie Schafrick, Kaitlyn Farrington, and Kelly Marren—it’s been awesome to watch them push it and progress—we’re sure we’ll see them in 2014. And so it goes …
Look for your Olympians to be competing in the X Games starting January 28, 2010, and then training in the Aspen pipe leading up to Vancouver.